Guest Column: It?s No Time to Circle the Wagons

In the wake of terrorist acts, or school shootings, or other horrific acts of violence, we feel duped. How could we have missed the signs? Or have been susceptible? We remind ourselves to be vigilant. Be suspicious. If you see something, say something. In other words, mistrust thy neighbor. We look at people differently. Everyone becomes a potential enemy. We ask ourselves, How well do we know the people who live next door? What do we really think of our children’s teachers or day care workers?I admit that after the Boston Marathon bombings, even I began to look at my neighbors with more apprehension. I didn’t like this fact. But there it was.Perhaps at no other time in American history—at least since the Red Scare and the rise of McCarthyism—have we been more skeptical of our fellow citizens. While our inclination might be to circle the wagons and become more suspicious than ever, there is another way to combat this proclivity towards wariness.But how? With more openness, not less.It may seem counterintuitive—but it’s actually quite logical. After all, many of these deplorable acts of violence arise because perpetrators feel disconnected. Their social networks decay. They develop anti-social and extremist views. When people detach, bad things are more likely to happen.I’ve been thinking of some simple steps that, at least for me, help me feel more confident and connected. Call it intentional faith. Or radical trust. Here’s my plan:Be polite. Open doors. Ask, “Can I help you with that?’”I know this sounds like kindergarten-level civics, but the small stuff really helps smooth our social interactions. I scratch your back (figuratively, or maybe literally), and you’ll be more inclined to scratch someone else’s later that day.Engage. Each day, strike up a conversation with at least one person you don’t know. It might be someone waiting on the subway platform next to you, or someone you pull up next to at a stoplight. “Hello,” “Great weather, huh?” “Did you catch the game last night?” are all good conversation starters. Exchanging pleasantries with people I barely know instantly makes me feel more connected.Have faith. When I’m at a cafe and need to leave my computer for a bathroom or phone break, I’ll ask the person sitting next to me—a total stranger—to guard my stuff. Something about entrusting a valuable possession to someone I don’t know widens and refreshes my spirit. Be trusting, but don’t be stupid.Know thy neighbor. Get to know the people who live on your street. Invite them to your backyard cookouts. Start a block party. I recently chatted up someone on my street whom I’ve known by sight for eight years, but never spoken to.Acknowledge the existence of others. Look up from your iPhone. Say hello to someone you pass on the sidewalk. Set aside time to interact—not on Facebook, but in person. Make your fellow citizens feel noticed, real and alive.Some may find these ways to restore faith and encourage trust unusual. Others might label them naive. But to me, rebuilding community in these dubious days calls for deliberate action.•